Seaside Event Digs Deep Into History of Oregon Coast's Highway 101

Published 10/15/2026 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) – Oregon's favorite coastal highway – well, really it's Oregon's only coastal highway – gets put under the glass with a dynamic and informative event entitled “101 at 100 – The History of Oregon’s Most Iconic Highway." It happens at Seaside Brewing on October 29. ( Roosevelt Highway and Rocky Point (Port Orford area) - Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society )

Seaside Museum’s History & Hops series will spotlight its story and fascinating genesis by pairing efforts with the Oregon Historical Society in Portland and its deep-diving exhibit of Highway 101. The program traces the origins of Highway 101, beginning with the Oregon Highway Commission’s 1913 effort to build a continuous road along the coast. The route was officially designated federal Highway 101 in 1926, ultimately stretching 363 miles and linking communities across seven counties.

The talk will explore how the highway was built, the engineering challenges involved, and the ways the road reshaped life for coastal towns. For more than a century, Highway 101 has supported commerce, agriculture and tourism while connecting residents to the broader region.

This month’s presenter is Megan Lallier-Barron, Curator of Exhibitions for the Oregon Historical Society. She develops research and content for exhibitions of all sizes and recently curated a major exhibit on the history of Highway 101 that opened earlier this year. Lallier-Barron holds a master’s degree in arts management with a museum studies focus from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in archaeology and art history from SUNY Potsdam.

Cape Creek Bridge - Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society (OrgLot19_B2_009) -(OrgLot1449_012)

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating.

Some fun Oregon Coast Highway Facts:

It was originally called the Roosevelt Coast Military Highway, named after the first President Roosevelt. Highway 101 in Seaside is still called Roosevelt.

In 1926, it was dubbed U.S. Highway 101. Other names and went over the decades.

The highway changed names periodically over the decades, including being called the Oregon Beach Highway, Oregon Coast Highway and a few others.

Construction began in 1919, with larger portions mostly finished or at least opened in '26.

Thursday, October 29th, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Seaside Brewing Co. (851 Broadway)

History & Hops is supported by the Seaside Museum, the Seaside Public Library and Seaside Brewing Co. The Seaside Museum & Historical Society, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of Seaside and the surrounding area. The museum, located at 570 Necanicum Drive, is open Wednesday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

For more information, contact Assistant Director Emily Halverson during museum hours at (503) 738-7065 or by email at seasidemuseum@gmail.com. The museum’s website is seasideoregonmuseum.com.

Megan Lallier-Barron

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